Say you're a Democratic member of Congress. You proudly cast your vote for Obamacare, you cheered when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed it as the achievement of a generation and you scoffed at Republicans who vowed to repeal it. Now you're running for re-election, and a voter asks: What is the most important thing you've done in the last two years?

The answer should be easy. In passing the national health care bill, you accomplished something your party dreamed of for decades. It was your most important vote, and now is the time to take credit for it.

Except it's not.

Recently a number of top Democratic strategists conducted focus groups in Las Vegas, Charlotte, Philadelphia and St. Louis. They also conducted a national poll of 1,000 likely voters and an online poll of 2,000 more likely voters. They wanted to measure the public's feelings about Obamacare and help Democrats make an effective case for the bill they passed in March.

The researchers found what they call a "challenging environment," which is a nicer way of saying "disaster in the making." Voters simply aren't buying the Democratic case that health care reform will insure more than 30 million currently uninsured people and save money at the same time. And when they think about their own health care, people worry that reform will mean less, not more, availability of care, and at a higher cost.

Faced with that bad news, the pollsters came up with several recommendations for Democratic candidates. When talking about Obamacare, Democrats should "keep claims small and credible." They should promise to "improve" the law. They should avoid talking about policy and stick to "personal stories" of people who will benefit from Obamacare. And above all, the pollsters advise, "don't say the law will reduce costs and deficit."

It's a stunning about-face for a party that saw national health care as its signature accomplishment. "This is the first time we've seen from Democrats that they clearly understand they have a serious problem in terms of selling this legislation," says Republican pollster David Winston.

The reluctance to defend Obamacare as a cost-cutter and deficit-reducer is particularly telling. Wasn't that the No. 1 reason for passing the bill in the first place? . . . .CONTINUED (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/For-Obamacare-supporters_-judgment-days-approaches-540167-101325829.html)

Gingersnap

08-26-2010, 01:38 PM

As far as I can see, all they've done in 2 years is spend trillions of dollars on crap nobody wants while simultaneously generating hundreds of new laws that nobody wanted.

PoliCon

08-26-2010, 01:51 PM

hopey changey

malloc

08-26-2010, 05:21 PM

As far as I can see, all they've done in 2 years is spend trillions of dollars on crap nobody wants while simultaneously generating hundreds of new laws that nobody wanted.

I don't know about hundreds, but that pretty much sums this tyrannical reign.

However, I knew Americans weren't dumb enough to believe that we could insure 30 million more people, overload an industry with regulation it still hasn't sorted out, consume more resources throughout the industry, and have prices fall. Anyone who took high school economics can see lower costs is an impossibility. Anyone who actually believed the hype is a simple idiot through and through. I'm glad I was right in trusting American common sense over progressive math.

lacarnut

08-26-2010, 05:53 PM

I am hoping that Republicans can articulate during the campaign the fact that insurance companies rates are going up dramatically in anticipation of this abortion going into effect. Between now and 2014, insurance companies will make out like bandits. If the Repubs play their cards right, this should be another stake in the hearts of Democrats in November.